}}{{tnr}}'''Regina McCarthy''' (b. in Dorchester, Massachusetts) is the current Administrator to the Environmental Protection Agency. She was nominated on March 4, 2013, and [[Appointment confirmation process|confirmed]] by the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] on July 18, 2013, by a vote of 59-40.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20130718/us-filibuster-fight/?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=politics ''Huffinton Post'', "Senate approves Obama-pick McCarthy to head EPA," July 18, 2013]</ref> McCarthy's confirmation process was one of many to have an extended wait in 2013.<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-usa-energy-mccarthy-20130718,0,4039206.story ''Chicago Tribune'', "Senate votes to move forward on Gina McCarthy EPA nomination," July 18, 2013]</ref>

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}}{{tnr}}'''Regina McCarthy''' (b. in Dorchester, Massachusetts) is the current Administrator to the [[U.S. Environmental Protection Agency]]. She was nominated on March 4, 2013, and [[Appointment confirmation process|confirmed]] by the [[United States Senate|U.S. Senate]] on July 18, 2013, by a vote of 59-40.<ref>[http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20130718/us-filibuster-fight/?utm_hp_ref=politics&ir=politics ''Huffinton Post'', "Senate approves Obama-pick McCarthy to head EPA," July 18, 2013]</ref> McCarthy's confirmation process was one of many to have an extended wait in 2013.<ref>[http://www.chicagotribune.com/business/sns-rt-us-usa-energy-mccarthy-20130718,0,4039206.story ''Chicago Tribune'', "Senate votes to move forward on Gina McCarthy EPA nomination," July 18, 2013]</ref>

She previously served as the Assistant Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation.<ref name="about">[http://uspolitics.about.com/od/biographies/a/Gina-Mccarthy-Bio.htm ''About.com'', "Gina McCarthy bio," accessed July 18, 2013]</ref>

She previously served as the Assistant Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation.<ref name="about">[http://uspolitics.about.com/od/biographies/a/Gina-Mccarthy-Bio.htm ''About.com'', "Gina McCarthy bio," accessed July 18, 2013]</ref>

Contents

Regina McCarthy (b. in Dorchester, Massachusetts) is the current Administrator to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. She was nominated on March 4, 2013, and confirmed by the U.S. Senate on July 18, 2013, by a vote of 59-40.[1] McCarthy's confirmation process was one of many to have an extended wait in 2013.[2]

She previously served as the Assistant Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation.[3]

Biography

McCarthy was born in Dorchester, Massachusetts, and served under five Massachusetts governors in her political career. She graduated from the University of Massachusetts at Boston before earning her Master's degree at Tufts University.[3]

Career

Below is an abbreviated outline of McCarthy's academic, professional and political career:[3]

1999-2003: Assistant Secretary of Pollution Prevention, Environmental Business and Technology for the State of Massachusetts

2003-2004: Deputy Secretary of Operations for the Massachusetts Office of Commonwealth Development

2004-2009: Commissioner of the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection

2009-2013: Assistant Administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Air and Radiation

2013-Present: Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency

Confirmation vote

McCarthy was confirmed by the U.S. Senate by a vote of 59-40 on July 18, 2013.[4]

Gina McCarthy confirmation vote, July 18, 2013

Party

Votes for a

Votes against d

Total votes

Democrats

51

1

52

Republicans

6

39

45

Independents

2

0

2

Total Votes

59

40

99

EPA administrator initiatives

Carbon cap executive order

On June 2, 2014, President Barack Obama signed an executive order intended to cut carbon pollution in the United States by 30% of 2005 levels by 2030. The order allowed states to individually determine which policies would be more effective for them to reach their goals. A similar bill was debated by Congress during Obama's first term in office, but it failed to pass. Obama used powers established by the 1970 Clean Air Act to sign the executive order.[5] Legal challenges were expected to arise over the 645 page order. EPA Administrator McCarthy said of the rule, "This is not just about disappearing polar bears or melting ice caps. This is about protecting our health and our homes. This is about protecting local economies and jobs."[6]

President Obama gave the EPA until June 2015 to finalize the rule and states have until June 2016 to submit their plans, but the EPA pushed the deadline for states back to 2017 for those working individually and 2018 for those working together on plans.[6]

Possible ramifications

Coal plants were most likely to be hit the hardest with estimates in the hundreds of the nation's 6,000 plants that would be shut down by 2030. The Chamber of Commerce estimated that the new rule could result in a lowering of the gross domestic product (GDP) by as much as $50 billion annually.[5]

The United Mine Workers of America (UMWA) president spoke out against the action, suggesting 75,000 jobs could be lost by 2020. He stated, "The proposed rule … will lead to long-term and irreversible job losses for thousands of coal miners, electrical workers, utility workers, boilermakers, railroad workers and others without achieving any significant reduction of global greenhouse gas emissions."[7] Additionally, Democratic lawmakers and candidates in coal-driven states have come out in opposition to the president's plan. Those lawmakers include: Alison Lundergan Grimes, Natalie Tennant and Rep. Nick Rahall (D-WV).[8]